How Russia's FSB Embraced Religion in the Face of a Baffling War

The Moscow Times ^ | February 13, 2023 | Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan

[lump in the melting pot]

The mood among Russia’s special forces and the FSB began to change dramatically in the fall, when Russian troops abandoned Kherson, suffering the latest of many humiliations for the Russian army.

'''

We’ve known most of our contacts in Russia’s special forces and the FSB for years, and none was particularly religious before the war. Now a wave of mysticism has descended on them; the apparent trigger being a growing understanding that the war is not going to end anytime soon.

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[lump in the melting pot]

If you know your destiny is to become sunflower fertilizer in eastern Ukraine, may as well get right with God. KGB agent -oops I meant Patriarch- Kirill approves!

[imabadboy99]

how nice of you to take such delight in their impending death. You are a true patriot sir.

[PIF]

Given the far greater potential of the dismal Russian invasion of Ukraine to harm the Russian state, the support offered by the church is on a far larger scale and even includes a willingness to indulge the widespread Russian belief in miracles.

Some of this is frankly bizarre. The pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda has been promoting "Orthodox battalions" in Donbas whose units successfully reported sustaining fewer casualties after each was renamed after Orthodox saints, the paper reported. 

Renamed and blessed, something strange happened. Losses began to dramatically decrease and miraculous salvations grew. "There are no more heavy casualties," the story’s headline assured readers.

Since the war in Ukraine began, the Church has made itself an arm of the Kremlin, not only justifying the war but also blessing Russian troops regardless of their conduct in an attempt to raise morale and provide a cause worth dying for - something Putin’s regime has so signally failed to do. The more primitive and mystical that cause is, the better, as long as it bolsters the war effort.

[McCarthysGhost]

What will we be fighting for when the time comes, mRNA “vaccines” and sex changes on children?

[MeganC]

“In times of war and not before,
God and the soldier we adore.
But in times of peace and all things righted,
God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.”

- Rudyard Kipling

[PGR88]

More deliberate obtuseness and childish reasoning: “we just can’t figure out why Russia would fight a war against NATO right on its border with Ukraine! The only explanation - Putin is Hitler!”

[kenmcg]

After committing war crimes that have murdered thousands upon thousands of innocent Ukrainian women, children and the elderly, the Russian bastards want to get right with God. Hope the day comes when the Ukrainians can hang them in the village square.

[Stingray51]

“the support offered by the church ... even includes a willingness to indulge the widespread Russian belief in miracles. Some of this is frankly bizarre.”

Only a complete non-believer would be baffled by a Christian’s belief in miracles.

[lump in the melting pot]

Same as russia just can’t figure out why all of its former subjugated colonies clamor to be admitted into NATO as soon as they gain their freedom...

[lump in the melting pot]

Broadly speaking, all deaths in this war of imperial aggression are tragic, but I reserve a lot more sympathy for the Ukrainian teenage girl found murdered by the invaders in a mass grave than the seven russian orcs whose semen was found inside her body.

[ansel12]

Patriots of the American forces are hard at work supplying and aiding the forces that are fighting off those Russians.

I doubt that poster is a Russian.

[lump in the melting pot]

In russia, indoor plumbing is a miracle

[Dogbert41]

“After committing war crimes that have murdered thousands upon thousands of innocent Ukrainian women, children and the elderly, the Russian bastards want to get right with God. Hope the day comes when the Ukrainians can hang them in the village square.”

Ten percent for the big guy, how much for you?

[kenmcg]

‘Ten percent for the big guy, how much for you?”

Showing your true colors Putin butt boy!

[Elsie]

Rudyard Kipling

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
    O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
    But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
    The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
    O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
 
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
    But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
    The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
    O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
 
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
    Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
    But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
    The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
    O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
 
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
    While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
    But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
    There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
    O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
 
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
    But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
    An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
    An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

[MeganC]

Thank you. That is both beautiful and sad.

[17th Miss Regt]

BS. FSB is just revamped KGB. They are materialists and deny the existence of a spiritual aspect to existence.

[dfwgator]

FSB is just revamped KGB

Which was the revamped Okhrana.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Restating the old about atheist in fox holes.

[Kazan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckX76lHiMDQ

Alex Christoforou of The Duran: "Looking at the physical reality of the situation. There are no tanks, there are no fight jets and there is no ammo to give.

"Tanks and fight jets, if there are available to give, the time it would take to train (Ukraine soldiers) will take too long.

"It's not going to make a difference. Everyone knows it isn't going to make a difference. It's obvious.

"We've even had commanders in the Polish military, former ones, that have said it's over.

"Ukraine doesn't have the ability to launch an offensive."